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- - TSONGA 7-6 6-2 - GAME, SET AND MATCH! Tsonga wins through to the quarter-finals with a commanding performance in the second set of this match, and Verdasco trudges away after having been comprehensively outpowered by the Frenchman! Next up for Tsonga will be a clash with either Tipsarevic or Simon in the last eight. Full drawsheet

- - TSONGA 7-6 5-2 - Verdasco shows good resolve and determination to hold serve despite a barrage of pressure from Tsonga, and now the Frenchman will have to serve out for this match...

- - TSONGA 7-6 5-1 - Tsonga moves to within a game of the match as he finds three big serves and ensures that Verdasco is kept firmly pinned back behind the baseline. Can Verdasco at least force him to serve out?

- - TSONGA 7-6 4-1 - Verdasco belatedly gets on the board in this second set, and he holds in rather unconvincing fashion to ensure that Tsonga does not run away with this entirely. The Frenchman still has work to do, two games from victory.

- - TSONGA 7-6 4-0 - Tsonga again holds serve to increase his lead in this second set, and Verdasco looks very despondent now as he slips out of contention in this match. Tsonga looks very dominant.

- - TSONGA 7-6 3-0 - BREAK! Tsonga stretches his lead in this second set as he breaks for a second successive game, bludgeoning two brilliant forehand winners and ensuring that Verdasco is out of this.

- - TSONGA 7-6 2-0 - Verdasco is unable to break straight back as Tsonga slams a forehand winner down the line and finds a huge serve down the T to close out the game in style!

- - TSONGA 7-6 1-0 - BREAK! Tsonga breaks as he seizes the initiative in this second set, and Verdasco is punished as he goes for two big first serves when under the cosh, and does not manage to execute the deliveries. Tsonga has the advantage!

- - TSONGA 7-6 - SET! What a tie-break, which sums up the hard-fought nature of the first set in general! The Frenchman pounces at 7-7 to fire a thunderous forehand down the line and beat Verdasco with a glorious cross court passing shot.

- - TSONGA 6-6 - Verdasco takes this opening set into a breaker as he slams an emphatic backhand down the line and follows it up with a big serve to Tsonga's body to close out the game.

- - TSONGA 6-5 - Tsonga bludgeons a forehand winner cross court as Verdasco has the audacity to advance in court after a fine approach shot, and the Frenchman holds once more with a flourish.

- - TSONGA 5-5 - Verdasco is not daunted by Tsonga powering a forehand winner down the line at the start of the game, and he responds with three precise first serves to keep the Frenchman kept firmly in his place. He levels at 5-5 and this set is very finely poised.

- - TSONGA 5-4 - Tsonga hits the line with a huge serve down the T, and Verdasco is kept pinned back behind the baseline as the Frenchman finds a very good rhythm and plays with real power.

- - TSONGA 4-4 - Verdasco is completely unfazed as he holds to 30, and the Spaniard is clinical as he finds the line with two blistering forehands as Tsonga looks to come in court and pressure his opponent.

- - TSONGA 4-3 - Tsonga begins rather apprehensively with a few poor serves, but gets into his rhythm as he finds three big first deliveries to hold serve and move 4-3 ahead - because of the rain, it's easy to forget that we are at the business end of this opening set!

- - TSONGA 3-3 - Verdasco gets off to a very confident start in this opening set as play is restarted, and he holds serve comfortably to level up the set at 3-3. Can Tsonga rediscover his rhythm?

- - Finally, the rain has eased off and we are ready to get back underway on Court Central with Verdasco to serve...

- - The players are back out on court as Verdasco and Tsonga warm up once more, but within minutes of hitting a few balls, they have to depart once more as another shower halts proceedings.

- - During this delay in play at the Monte Carlo Masters, why not get in touch and let me know who you think will win this tournament - do you fancy seven-time champion Nadal to make it eight, or will Djokovic prevail this time? What about Murray, Tsonga and others? Get in touch with me on Twitter!

- - Oh dear, the players have to leave the court and the rain is teeming it down now in Monte Carlo. Verdasco may well be the happier to get off court with Tsonga just hitting his rhythm, particularly on his forehand side. Let's hope this delay is not too extended.

- - TSONGA 3-2 - Tsonga holds once more with his forehand proving even more effective than his serve at the moment! Verdasco produces three very fine returns, but still ends up losing the points to the Frenchman. It begins to rain, and the umbrellas go up!

- - TSONGA 2-2 - Verdasco is forced to deuce by Tsonga, who finds a string of fine groundstrokes to peg his opponent back, but the Spaniard comes through to show good composure. Verdasco's forehand is in very good working order today.

- - TSONGA 2-1 - The burly Frenchman, who celebrated his 27th birthday after his second round victory, powers a forehand down the line in belligerent fashion to close out the game after another string of fine saves.

- TSONGA 1-1 - Verdasco gets on the board immediately, like his opponent, as he finds a good rhythm on his first serve and pins Tsonga back behind the baseline.

- - TSONGA 1-0 - Tsonga takes the opening game of the match as he finds three big first serves to hold and ensure that he gets a foothold in this first set. Now, can Verdasco settle equally quickly?

- - Next up on Court Central will be world number five Jo-Wilfried Tsonga's third-round clash with Fernando Verdasco.